Do you have a favourite pen? What about a notebook that you love to write in? The tools we use are important to our writing process, and not just because of superstition. ​

Sure, it is tempting to think that because you actually finished the story you were writing in a spiral bound black notebook while sitting in a Starbucks facing south-east that you ALWAYS have to use the same tools and sit in the same Starbucks in the same seat. But, superstition aside, the tools we use to write are actually important! In Natalie Goldberg’s iconic book on writing, Writing Down the Bones, she talks about paying attention to the tools we choose for our writing. ​

“First, consider the pen you write with. It should be a fast-writing pen because your thoughts are always much faster than your hand. You don’t want to slow up your hand even more with a slow pen.” - Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones

Space is important. It might seem like it shouldn’t be, but let’s be honest, when your space is uninspiring or worse, distracting, how much writing do you actually get done?

I know some writers will say that the goal is to be able to write in any condition, that a writer should just be able to pick up a pen wherever they are and spew out eloquent prose. Although I admire that sentiment, I personally feel that is an unrealistic attitude for many writers. How many other artistic disciplines do you know that would function this same way? Do choreographers just get up in the middle of a cafe and start creating? Do painters carry around an easel and their complete set of paints wherever they go just in case inspiration hits? No. However, that’s not to say that these creators aren’t planning, taking notes, sketching ideas on the go. I believe the challenge with creating a perfect writing space is articulating the things that you need to inspire your creativity while also knowing what things distract you from it. Once you know those two things, the question becomes, how can that writing space move with you? Does it have a permanent home in the form of an office? Or does it have a more mobile quality to it? Maybe you know you need a specific journal to inspire your writing, and you need to tune out background noise. So your journal and good headphones are all you really need.

Getting started on a writing project is probably one of the hardest parts of the whole process, but it doesn't have to be! In this post, I will share 5 writing prompt resources that can help you start writing today, even if you don't have a project in mind!

Writing prompts are my favourite! I have used them as a writing warm up, a practice exercise, a tool to develop certain writing skills, and I use them all the time to help me get into a larger project. They are a great way to just start writing, wherever you are mentally, physically or emotionally. And the best part... they are ridiculously easy to find! In fact, you could just use the dictionary and choose a random word to use as a prompt if you want. But, I'm going to share five resources that have put a little more thought behind their prompts for you.

Ever had a brilliant idea for a story but when you sit down to write your mind goes blank? Maybe it is a brand new idea and you get stuck on how to begin or maybe you are half way through a project and just get stuck on starting the next section. Either way it can be incredibly frustrating, am I right?!

Sometimes it feels like inside my mind all this magic is happening that somehow all fits together easily and beautifully, but when I sit down at my desk it's like an elusive unicorn always just out of reach. Writing can feel similar to trying to remember or explain a dream. The picture feels really complete in your head, but when you try to put it into words it starts crumbling and makes no sense at all. So here are five ways you can enter into a story if you are stuck on how to begin.

Do you love listening to podcasts? Do you love being part of a supportive, happy writer's community? The Beautiful Writer's Podcast combines these two things seamlessly to create hour long sessions that feel as if you are sitting down with your best writing friends and having a cup of tea.

I first discovered The Beautiful Writer's Podcast about a year ago when I moved an hour long train ride away from work. I was desperate for podcasts that would keep me engaged from beginning to end of my journey and fill me with creative nourishment. I am so glad I stumbled across this gem. The first season or so, Linda Siversten co-hosts the show with Danielle LaPorte, and after Danielle leaves as permanent co-host, Linda invites a different person on each episode to join her conversation. What is really nice about this podcast is that it isn’t trying to teach you anything, or talk about something very specific in the industry. I have seen so many podcasts with descriptions like, "How to get your book published" or "Tools for Self-Published Authors". Instead of this "how to" approach, this podcast feels like a few writers getting together to jam about life as a writer. I find that I actually learn so much more this way. The knowledge, lessons, techniques, habits, all come out in a natural conversation rather than a structured interview. Maybe this is because there is often two hosts and one guest, so the conversation flows between three voices, but I also think Linda Siversten is a natural interviewer that makes her guests feel welcome and comfortable. Some of my favourite guests have been Dani Shapiro, Tom Hanks, Nell Scovell, and Rosie Walsh, but they are all great!